Trump Claims Firm Invaded Privacy By Posting Name on Website

Real estate mogul and reality TV personality Donald Trump is continuing his battle against his former lawyers, this time with a $5 million suit claiming they have violated his privacy by using his name on its website and talking about representing him during media interviews.

Trump has sued again, this time accusing Morrison Cohen and partner David Scharf of unjust enrichment for using his name and image “for advertising purposes,” Reuters reports.

“Defendants, without Trump’s written consent, have used—really commercially exploited—Mr. Trump’s name and reputation, and continue to do so, on Morrison Cohen’s website,” the lawsuit said.

A search of Morrison’s Cohen website Tuesday morning by ABAJournal.com brought up two Trump references, one is a release (JPG) referencing a $2 million trial verdict favoring Trump Briarcliff Manor Development in 2005. The second reference is an archived list (JPG) noting Trump Organization as a “client.” But Trump’s name is no longer on the current list of clients.

Reuters reports that the firm counters that Trump, who was represented by the firm from 2001 to 2006, is merely trying to avoid paying $600,000 in overdue legal fees.

“We are pursuing our collections claim, we are adamant that we get paid for the services rendered, and we view this claim by the Trump organization as completely frivolous,” the firm’s chairman, David Scherl, is quoted saying.